You can use spray on lacquer from any hardware store to coat the hardware and keep it shiny.

Please, oh, please don't paint the hinges white. It will make your whole paint job look like a hack job. Look at gate hardware if you feel the need to replace them. You'll find this hardware around for cabinets, but it's no longer commonly found. Another option would be to use something like the Ce Ce Caldwell paints that adhere well, and perhaps gilding them with something in a dull metallic. I can actually see these hinges looking pretty nice on a white/cream colored cabinet. It might be a challenge finding handles (I'm not a knob person; they're always coming loose), so you might consider keeping these, but moving them down to a more modern level. What I really like about your cabinets is they're inset. Being a forced DIYer, I'd change the door and bottom drawer a tiny bit. I'd shorten them. Then, I'd put a stile at the bottom of the uppers that's the same width as the rails on the side. For the drawers, I'd make it the same width all around. It would also modernize a traditional look to traditional vs. era look. Does that make sense? From what I can see, these look custom and are probably well made. What's on the other side of the kitchen?

In addition to backsplash and flooring, I’d fill the space above the upper cabinets and the ceiling with molding that matches your cabinet stain and wood type etc. I'd also DEFINITELY fill the space above the fridge and the bottom of the upper cabinets. There should only be a 2" gap here, but right now it's a huge gap. It cheapens the kitchen IMO. I'm sure you could find a contractor that could match the wood and make a panel to cover the open space. This panel will easily be removable if future owners get larger fridge. This panel will make the cabinets look more custom-made for the space. Does your new fridge jut out as much as your old fridge (is it much deeper than the cabinets)? Also do you have under cabinet lighting (EDIT: I see you do...does it work well/is it functional?)? What's your ceiling lighting situation? Lighting can change the way something looks...rooms can look like different spaces based on what lighting is being used! Another important thing...is there only one available above counter duplex (am I correct that it's a duplex outlet and not a fourplex?)? If it were me, I'd have an electrician convert this duplex outlet into a fourplex (this cannot be done once backsplash is installed). This is a pretty simple conversion, so I do not think it would cost too much.

Duplicate. Repeating the same post still without pictures isn’t how this is done. Add pictures to your first post, here. Pictures are required. https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5897514/update-my-kitchen-without-painting-oak-cabinets#n=3